2012 Top 200 Fantasy Football Player Rankings

More than a week into training camps, it’s time to take a look at a few second-year players who are benefiting from their first full offseasons. I'm sure both Torrey Smith and Stevan Ridley struggled through last summer during the league's lockout, but they have impressed in camp, thus far.

This is the type of growth you want to hear about from young players around the league at this time of year.

Has the light bulb come on? Do they understand the importance of taking care of the little details in their crafts, to be effective pros?

It’s crucial to hear positive signs in camp, not just highlight plays against vanilla defenses in preseason action.

I look to both players as potential breakout names you should consider on draft day.

Believe In Torrey Smith

After struggling in camp as a rookie, Torrey Smith turned it on after a dominant Week 3 performance against the Rams in which he scored three touchdowns in the first half.

I was impressed with Smith last year, as he quickly became the playmaker in the Baltimore Ravens receiving corps. I’m even more impressed after finding out that he played with a double hernia all year, one of them having multiple tears in the groin area.

One, the fact that he played through this is a little concerning, as you don’t want it to affect him for the rest of his career, but it’s a testament to his willingness to play through injury.

Two, if he was good enough as a rookie to go for 841 yards and seven touchdowns with this injury, what will he do in his prime?

The future is bright for Smith.

At some point, I will have to go back and watch the film to see if defenses were treating him or or Anquan Boldin like the No.1 receiver down the stretch. Boldin is clearly a different player than he once was, so it will be interesting to see how defenses attack this team.

Smith is a receiver who can tilt coverage, and if he can continue to develop as a route-runner, his 2012 season could be WR1 worthy.

Smith's upside as a deep threat and the real No. 1 receiver in the offense could move him up the boards fast. I also like that Smith has focused on his intermediate and underneath route-running in camp, and it appears that he's impressed.

Stevan Ridley showed us that he has what it takes to be a starting tailback in this league. He is a strong runner who seems to do a good job of taking what he can get from defenses and finishing runs off.

With the physical tools to be a good pass-blocker, it only makes sense that Ridley can fill in the void left in New England by BenJarvus Green-Ellis' departure.

Because he plays for the Patriots, you can count on Ridley losing time to Danny Woodhead in passing situations, and fellow second-year tailback Shane Vereen will get snaps, as well.

Value Ridley no higher than a RB3 even as a starter, but if his role should expand consistently into that of a 17-to-20-carry-a-week player, he would easily develop into a solid RB2. It really depends on how Vereen develops and if Ridley can control his fumbling issues from last year.

Patriots beat writers are praising Ridley for his work almost daily. Ridley seems to have a strong hold as the early-down back and goal-line bruiser.